USE OF STATISTICS

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 79, 4 April 1938, Page 6

USE OF STATISTICS

Responsible public men are careful in their use of statistics, because (probably through experience) they know of the exWenee of pitfalls. But for every one who is careful there are politicians, newspaper controversialists and "bush lawyers'' who are not which is one reason why many controversies end only in futility and exasperation. However, those willing to learn something of the proper use of statistics relating to our own country now have an opportunity, for theTe hae been published a "Guide to S'ew Zealand Official Statistics." (Whiteombe and Tombs.) The author, Dr. E. P. Xeale, is eing-ularly well qualified for the task, for he hae had experience in the Cenaus and Statistics Departments and he is at present lecturer in statistical methods at Auckland University College, and secretary of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Xeale discusses, in turn, the statistics of population, meteorology, trade, justir-e. production and consumption, finance, industry and business conditions, notes how the statistics are obtained and compiled, and what thev include and do not include, and then, under the heading of "pitfalls," show* how and in what circumstances they may be misleading. One or two examples only may be noted here. In statistics of shippine tonna'ge there are. at least four measurements in use—displacement, burden, gross and net. Dr. Xeale points out that "under this wholly artificial and complicated system registered ionnage bears no cliise relation -to carrying capacity. Marino architects build to keep the registered tonnage as low as possible ... to reduce the registered tonnage relatively to the carrying capacity of the *hip. . '. . Shipping statistics arc thus not very useful for tine or extended comparisons." Then there is that line old controversial topic, the public debt. The term it<-elf is ambiguous; it may refer to the debt of the general Government only, or to that of the general Government plus that of the local authorities. Money borrowed by the Government may !>e lent to local bodies", so that there is a danger of counting it twice. Moreover, the public debt in countries such as Now Zealand and Australia includes amounts that would in other countries appear a* the capita! of private railway companies.